Method of producing pyroxylin compositions



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CHARLES ELWOOD ARNOLD, 0F. \VILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR T0 E. I. DU FONT DE NEMOURS POWDER COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

METHOD OF PRODUCING PYROXYLIN COMPOSITIONS.

No Drawing.

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. ARNOIJD,"

of Wilmington, in the county of New Castle, and in the State of Delaware, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of Producing Pyroxylin Compositions, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof. u

' My invention relates particularly to methods of producing pyroxylin compositions such as those, for example, adapted to be applied in the coating of fabrics, although my invention is adapted also to the production of compositions containing pryoxylin in many other industries.

The object of my invention is to provide a method of producing a pyroxylin or celluloid scrap jelly in an effective manner an with a small amount of solvent. Hitherto, attempts have been made to produce pyroxylin compositions from such scrap by grinding the same. This, however, is dangerous, as the friction sometimes causes ignition. An eflort has been made to avoid this effect by grinding the scrap under water. But this is disadvantageous as the ground scrap must be dried before utilizing it in the production of pyroxylin compositions.

The object of my invention is to provide a means for utilizing pyroxylin or celluloid scrap in such a way so as to avoid these disadvantages.

My invention is carried out in general by agitating the pyroxylin or celluloid scrap 'with the solvent. It was at first thought that a large quantity of solvents would be needed for this purpose, and that a very large quantity of solvent would therefore have to be recovered before the completion of the process. l have discovered, however,

that the process may be carried out with only a comparatively small quantity of sol vent.

In carrying out my invention the pyrox ylin or celluloid scrap is agitated in any suitable container, as a tumbling drum, together with a quantity of solvents, and a quantity of castor oil is added thereafter.

My invention is preferably carried out by producing a stifi plastic mass from celluloid scrap and a minimum amount of solvent in a very slowly revolving drum or any slowmoving closed container.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedrtug. as, rare.

Application filed February 3, 1915. Serial No. 5,848.

While my invention is capable of being carried out in many diflerent ways, as one example of the manner in which my invention may be carried out, I may mention the followmgz-One hundred and fifty parts of unground celluloid scrap are mixed with two hundred parts of solvents, which solvents drum turning preferably at a speed of two revolutions per minute until a jelly is produced. The viscosity of this jelly is such that it will just flow when the drum is turned at aspeed of two revolutions per minute. Then to this is added three hundred parts of castor oil and forty parts of plgment. T have found that this method is very effective notwithstanding the comparatively small percentage of solvent used, and that the constituents thereof become readily and rapidly mixed to produce a homogeneous composition.

A composition of this character'may be applied in any suitable manner to the'production of any suitable product where such compositions are utilized. For example it may be applied to the production of coated fabrics. After being applied to a woven fabric, the volatile solvent is recovered in any suitable way, as for example, by one of a the well-known methods involving condensation.

While ll have described my invention above in detail, T wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein 2. The process which comprises producing a jelly by tumbling about 150 parts of celluloid scrap with about 200 parts of a solvent of celluloid in a tumbling drum turning at substantially the rate adaptedto give a maximum flow of the jelly, which is about two revolutions per minute.

3.. The process which comprises producing a jelly by tumbling about 150 parts of celluloid scrap with about 200 parts of a solvent of celluloid in a tu'mbling drum turning at substantially the rate adapted to give; a maximum flow of the jelly, which is about two revolutions per minute.

4. The process which comprises producing a jelly by tumbling celluloid scrap with a volatile solvent of celluloid in a tumbling drum turning at substantially the rate adapted to give a maximum flow of the jelly,

which is about two revolutions per minute.

5. The process whichcomprises producing a jelly by-tumbling about 150 parts of celluloid. scrap with about 200 parts of a volatile" solvent of celluloid in a tumbling drum turning at substantially the minimum rate adapted to give a constant flow of the jelly, which is about two revolutions per minute.

6. The process which comprises producing a jelly by tumbling about '150 parts of cellu- 101d scrap with about 200 parts of a volatile solvent of celluloid in a tumbling drum turning at'substantially the rate adapted to;

give a maximum flow of the jelly, which is about two revolutions per minute.

7. The process which comprises producing a jelly by agitating about 150 parts of celluloid scrap with about 200 parts of a liquid solvent pf celluloid.

8. I The process which comprises producing a jelly by agitating about 150'pa rts of celluloid scrap with about 200 parts of a solvent of celluloid and then mixing the same with about 300 parts castor oil.

9. The process which comprises producing a jelly by agitating about 150 parts of cellulord scrap with about 200 parts solvent, the latter containing about 75 parts ethyl alcohol, 7 5 parts benzol ahd 50 parts commercial "ethyl acetate.

a liquid solventvof celluloid in a tumbling drum.

12. The process which comprises producing a jelly of high viscosity by tumbling celluloid scrap with a liquid solvent of cellu lo-id in a tumbling drum. r

13. A process which comprises producing a jelly of high viscosity by tumbling celluloid scrap with a minimum amount of liquid solvent of celluloid in a tumbling drum, turning at substantially the rate adapted to give the maximum flow of jelly which is abouttwo revolutions per minute.

In'testimony thatI claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES ELWOOD ARNOLD.

Witnesses:

P. E. STRICKLAND, a R. H. RAWLEIGH, 

